Cooling device



Feb. 4, 1958 w. A. HAVEN 2,822,078

COOLING DEVICE Filed May 14, 1954 FIG. 1.

INVENTOR; WILLIfiM fl-fiFWEN SQTTO RNEY United States Patent Z,822;TI8

COOLINGLDEVICE William 'A.*Haven,2Clevelandl'Heights;.0hio; assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Kaiser:StecltCorporation, Oakland, Gaiif., a corporationvof-Nevada Application May" 14, 1954; 'Serial No.- 429,925 4 Claims. (Cl. 198-209) This invention'relates' to an apparatus'for'use in the atmospheric cooling of heated material. More'jparticularly, it is concerned with providinga'novel apparatus -for cooling heated sinter material and the like in a multistage operation.

During certain stages in theprocessing of'materials 'suchias sinter, coke,-cement clinker, "burnt lime,'-etc., the material is exposed to heat. After'being'heat treated, it is very diflicult to handle the material satisfactorily *by means of conveyor belts, etc., unless the material is first cooled.

, Various machinesv have been-previously proposed for cooling these materials. In these machines the material, such as hot sinter, is frequently discharged fromjthe -sintering machine onto the cooler in large cakes. 'Itfis extremely difiicult to cool these large cakes of material "completely, since the parts'of these large cakes,"which arethe hottest, are located on the inside of the c'ake,'and are not directly exposed to the air currents. Thus, "when a conventional single stage cooling device'is empolyed, or where the material is passed through'asingle cooling zone, it is generally very 'diflicult to coolsu'ch 'large cakes of material suflicientlyfor later handlingby conveyor belts, etc.

One way toprovide for complete cooling of theliheated material is to prolong the cooling periodby-increasing the-"size of'the cooling device or length-OftraVeLof the-material through the coolingzone. =However,=since space-in sinte'ringplant'areas and the like is at a premium, it is ordinarily impractical to merelyincrease the capacity of thecooler and thereby' lengthen the cooling period by increasingthe peripheral dimensions of the' cooling tidevice. In addition, special means must also'be used' to break the large cakes into small fragments.

i It has been I found, however, that where I a plurality of coolingbinsare-superimposed one upon .the other ina novel manner with thematerial being cooled being successively transferred first from one bin to another in ''-a tumbling fashion, that the aforesaid ditliculties can he minimized. "By the "use'of' the -multistage cooler of the type proposed; the material is projected downwardly from the top ofthe cooling device to the bottom thereof in a tumbling-fashion. This causesthelarge blocks or cakes of =material to -break upyinto-smaller': fragments which arequickly cooled upon exposure'tto the-air. ln this way also, the overall cooling period is advantageously increased and-maximum exposurev of the materialto the air is' effected within a minimum amount of time -and --space.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel multistage cooling device'comprised of a plurality of annular cooling bins located ina novel fashion one above the other.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel cooling device, wherein the capacity'of the cooling device can be increased without an increase in the overall "diameter of the device, which in somecases, can even *be reduced.

each other at different horizontal levels on the'framework. Each of "the binsincludes an annular downwardly .members 4.may bejoinedztogethenby beingraflixedto ice his another bbjebtmoffthis invention ,ot prov id e a -novel coolingdevice comprised of ,ajplurality of supercooled.

It is another'ob'ject 'of"this"-inventiontogprovide a novel. multistage device provided'with novel means for :resiliently mounting anddriving thejsame.

'The above advantages iare'obtained by providingin 'a cooling device foruse 'inthe atmospheric cooling of heated sinter material and the like,"the combination of a rotatable verticallydispose'd framework. "A plurality of annular'hins-arei-mountedon thefframew o'rk. These bins are concentrically arrangedwith respect to and outwardly inclined inner wall and-an annular downwardly and inwardly inclined outer wall of shorter length than the inner'wall. 1 Each bin also'includes horizontally disposed annular shelf meansextending outwardly from the base of the inner-wall an'd 'beyon'd the bottom eX- tremity of the outer wall. Suitable plow means are employed for transferring 'the' material deposited on the shelf means of'a -bin to the bin located directly therebelow. Additional plow means-are employed for removing the material deposited on the shelf of the lowermost bin andonto adischarge-conveyor.

In 'an advantageous embodimentof' the invention, a plurality of resilientlyomountedwheels are circumferentially. located .below an'd -adjacent'the outer periphery .of. the. framework. for rotating and supporting the frame work and the bins'mounted thereon-by engaging an annular track disposed :on: the lundersurface' of theframework.

These and other'iobjects aridi'a'dvantages of the instant aainvention will become more apparentfrom a review of the following detailed description whentaken in conjunction with thexappendedidrawings, wherein: Figure l is a plan vviewd :with. parts broken away of nthevnovel multistage.- cooler-'ofmhei instant: invention;

"Figure -2 is :a'sectional view :of the:cooling id'evice shown in Figure 1 whenftaken along: lines 22 thereof, .an'd with partsrremovedufor thexsakeaoftclarity;

Figure 3 is an end leleva tional viewzofsone of. the wheels used to resiliently support and rotate the cooling device truss-type segments. 2 :which -ex-tend in the manner 'lof spokes outwardly from r the centerof @the framework; '11.

These truss type members 2 generally :includezthe base membersor beams-3,the ltop fbea m. members-=4, together with :a series iof .diagonal bridging-or ibracing members 5 and vthe vertically :and angularly disposed beams-8, 9 and 9. The inner. sections'for:inner extremities of the 'base members!) may betied together at a centralpost 6, while the innerextremities of" thektOP framework 1 is-atrackway 1'1 which'includes as apart thereof theannular track 12. A plurality"offlangd Wheels 1 3 are circumferentially*disposd *bel'ow "andadjacent the outer periphery of the "framework so as to engage the track=12.

Asindicated iniFig3, eaeh of the flanged' 'wheels fi is adapted to be resiliently mounted within standards 14. The standards 14 may be advantageously made of telescopic sections 15 and 16. Section 15 may be made in the form of a rod having a suitable aperture 17 at the top thereof through which the shaft 19 for the wheel 13 may be inserted. The lower part of rod 15 is adapted to be inserted within the cylinder element 16. In order to provide for telescopic engagement of rod 15 with cylinder 16 and a resilient mounting of the wheel 13 within the standards 14, the preferred embodiment of the invention contemplates the use of a compressible spring member or element 20, which surrounds the rod 15. The opposing ends of member 20 bear against the plate 21 rigidly affixed to the upper part of rod 15, and the upper outer surface of the cylinder 16.

One or more of the wheels 13 may also be employed for rotating the framework 1 in addition to supporting the same by having the shaft 19 of the wheel 13 connected to a suitable electric motor encased within a housing 22. The wheel shaft 19 is effectively connected to the motor in housing 22 through the medium of the shafts 23, 24 and 25, as well as the flexible coupling 26 and the reduction gears (not shown) enclosed within the gear reduction box or housing 27.

Afiixed to the outside portions of the beam members 9 and 9' of the framework 1, which as indicated in Figure 2, are directed in a downwardly and outwardly direction, is a conical shaped abrasion resistant surface 28 which extends in a continuous manner from the top of the framework to the bottom thereof. This abrasion resistant surface 28 may be made in the form of two annular and conically shaped metal sections 29 and 30 for the upper and lower bin members respectively, and they may be provided with a suitable refractory brick covering, if desired. In short, it can be said that each of the bin members 31 and 32, respectively includes an outwardly and downwardly inclined inner surface or wall. The upper bin 31 also is provided with an annular downwardly and inwardly inclined outer wall or surface 33. Bin 32 is provided with a similar wall 34. These walls may be formed from suitable steel plates having wear resistant refractory bricks connected thereto. In the case of the upper bin member 31, the outer wall 33 is secured to the downwardly and inwardly projecting beams 35 which are held in position and affixed to the main body ofthe frame by the extensions 36 on the beams 4. Extensions 36 may also be covered with a suitable wear resistant shoe or plate 37.

In the case of the lower bin member 32, inwardly and downwardly projecting arms 38 are provided, to which the wear resistant surface 34 forming the downwardly and inwardly inclined outer wall for the bin is attached. These arms 38 are secured to the main framework '1 and to the individual truss type members 2 through the medium of the projecting arms 40, which are secured to the beam segments 9' adjacent the point where they abut the beam segments 9.

Each of the individual bin sections 31 and 32 is also advantageously provided with horizontal shelf means. In the case of the upper bin 31, a horizontal shelf 41, which may be provided with an abrasion resistant covering 42 is adapted to project from the base of the inner wall 29 outwardly and beyond the bottom extremity of the downwardly and inwardly inclined outer wall 33. In the case of bin 32,, a similarly arranged annular shelf 43 is employed. I

As in the case of the extensions 36, arms may be advantageously provided with suitable wear resistant inverted channel-shaped coverings 44 of steel. These serve to protect arms 40 from the abrasive action of the material dischargedinto bin 32. Located about the top of the framework l adjacent the topmost beam members 4 is an annular spillage guard 46, which serves to keep the material discharged, into the topmost bin 31 through the medium of the overhead conveyor chute 50 from spilling onto the framework 1 and away from the topmost bin 31.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention as indicated particularly in Fig. 1, a suitable plow 51 may be employed for removing the material from the shelf 42 as it is discharged thereon from the bin 31 in such a way that it will cause the material to spill outwardly and into the lowermost bin 32. By pivotally affixing plow 51 to the pin or shaft member 52 located in a base member 53, the plow may be adjusted to any angle necessary for properly spilling the material from the shelf 42 of the uppermost bin member into the bottom hopper or bin 32. It will also be noted that the outer extremity or end of shelf 42 is preferably arranged so that it is located at a point which is in vertical alignment with the centermost portion of bin 32.

In addition, in order to transfer the cooled material after it has been projected from the topmost bin to the lowermost bin onto a suitable discharge conveyor 55 located off and to one side of framework 1, it is con templated in the preferred embodiment of the invention that a suitable plow member 56 be employed. This plow projects out over shelf 43. This plow member may be pivotally mounted by means of the pivot pin 57 aflixed to a suitable standard or base member 53. In this way, plow 56 may be adjusted to any position desired for obtaining the proper spilling of material otf of the lowermost shelf 43 and onto the discharge conveyor 55.

In the operation of the device, the sinter material will be continuously discharged through the medium of the chute 50 into the uppermost bin 31 as the framework 1 is continuously rotated. Due to the inclined surfaces of the outer and inner walls of each of the bins 31 and 32 which are preferably inclined at an angle which is greater than the angle of repose of the material being cooled, the material is allowed to flow uninterruptedly downward until it reaches the shelf 42 associated with bin 31. Thereafter, the material, upon one rotation of the framework 1, is effectively discharged or spilled from the first shelf 42 into the second or lowermost bin 32, which is arranged in spaced vertical relationship as well as concentric relationship with bin 31. After the material has passed through the second bin 32 during the second rotation of the framework, it becomes deposited upon the lowermost shelf 43 after which it is discharged onto the conveyor 55 through the medium of the plow 56.

By the utilization of a multistage cooler of the type proposed, the material is not only afforded a greater exposure to the atmosphere for the purposes of cooling than it is possible in a single stage cooler, but in addition, the material is projected downward in a tumbling fashion by being projected from bin to shelf and from shelf to bin. This action causes large blocks'or chunks of sinter material to breakup into small fragments or pieces. As a result, the air circulates throughout the several beds of material in an even-and uniform manner. In addition, by the use of an plurality of superposed and stepped bin structures in the same cooling device, the capacity of the cooling device can be increased without going to bin structures of exceedingly large diameters. As a result also, the space which is needed for operating such a cooling device is reduced to a minimum.

The stepped arrangement of the annular cooling bins with respect to one another also enhances the natural convection of the cooling atmospheric air over, through, and around the heated material and advantageously produces, as it were, a chimney effect wherein masses of cooling air are pulled over and through the material.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the instant invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims, wherein what is claimed is:

1. In a cooling device of the character described, the combination of a vertically disposed rotatable framework,

a plurality of concentrically arranged atmospherically exposed annular bins mounted on said framework, said bins being of progressively larger diameter from the top to the bottom of said framework and at difierent hori zontal levels on the said framework, each of said bins comprising a common annular, downwardly and outwardly inclined inner wall and a radially spaced annular, downwardly and inwardly inclined outer wall of shorter length than said inner wall, and horizontally disposed annular shelf means extending outwardly from the base of said inner wall below and beyond the bottom extremity of said outer wall, adjustable plow means overlying at least one of said shelf means for transferring the material deposited on the shelf means of one bin to the bin located directly therebelow, and adjustable plow means overlying the shelf means of the lowermost bin for removing the material deposited on the shelf means of the lowermost bin from said shelf means and onto a discharge conveyor.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein the terminal edge of the shelf means of each of the bins is disposed in vertical concentric alignment with the central portion of the bin located immediately therebelow.

3. In a cooling device of the character described for use in the atmospheric cooling of heated sinter material and the like, the combination of a vertically disposed rotatable framework, a plurality of concentrically arranged atmospherically exposed annular bins mounted on the said framework, said bins being of progressively larger diameter from top to bottom of said framework at different horizontal levels on the said framework, each of said bins comprising a common annular downwardly and outwardly inclined inner wall and a radially spaced annular downwardly and inwardly inclined outer wall of shorter length than said inner wall, and horizontally disposed annular shelf means extending outwardly from the base of said inner wall below and beyond the bottom extremity of said outer wall, adjustable plow means overlying at least one of said shelf means for transferring the material. deposited on the shelf means of one bin to the bin located directly therebelow, adjustable plow means overlying the shelf means of the lowermost bin for removing the material deposited on the shelf means of the lowermost bin from the said shelf means and onto a. discharge conveyor, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, resiliently mounted wheels engaging said framework, said wheels and supporting said framework and said bins, at least one of said wheels including driving means for rotating said framework and said bins.

4. The combination defined in claim 3, wherein said framework includes an annular track means aifixed to the underside thereof and in engagement with the said wheels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,480,727 Greyson Aug. 30, 1949 2,619,739 Baughman Dec. 2, 1952 2,681,158 Henrikson June 15, 1954 

